Electrical Engineer Stamped Drawings for Los Angeles Permits (LADBS & LA County)
Red Dog Engineering reviews, corrects and seals electrical drawings for commercial permits in Los Angeles. Jerry Poon, PE, a California-licensed Electrical Engineer, does the engineering: load calculations, panel schedules, single-line diagrams and plan-check responses for LADBS, LA County and the surrounding cities. Contractors, architects and owners’ representatives can send what they have, complete or not, and get a written scope and fee.
​

Typical clients are general contractors, electrical contractors, architects, tenant-improvement specialists, property managers and owners’ representatives who need an electrical engineer to complete or correct the load calculations, panel schedules and single-line diagrams in a drawing set, then sign and seal it for permit submission.
California Electrical PE Stamp Requirements
An electrical permit, electrical plan check and a PE stamp are separate requirements. Whether your project needs PE-stamped electrical drawings depends on the work, applicable law and the reviewing authority’s requirements.
​
California law allows a properly licensed contractor to design electrical systems within their license classification for work that contractor will perform and supervise. That allowance does not extend to designing work for installation by another contractor.
​​
Los Angeles narrows that allowance further. Since September 23, 2025, LAMC 93.0206 lets the installing contractor sign most electrical plan-check sets for its own work, but not engineering calculations and analysis, and not health-care, solar or battery-storage plans. Those must be signed by a registered engineer. In practice that covers the NEC 220.87 demand calculation and the short-circuit analysis on the LADBS correction list. San Diego requires an electrical engineer’s signature on electrical plans for everything other than one- and two-family dwellings, unless the contractor both designs and installs the work.
​
Load changes, new equipment, panel or service upgrades, medical and dental equipment, and restaurant renovations can require electrical plans and calculations. Those project descriptions alone do not establish a universal PE-stamp requirement.
​
If your plan checker has requested PE-stamped drawings, email the actual correction sheet with your project address and available plans. We’ll review the information to define the engineering scope and prepare a proposal.
​
Sources:
Who This Service Is For
This service is for project teams that need an electrical engineer to review, correct and seal drawings for LADBS, LA County or a nearby city.
You’ll get the most value from this service if you are:
-
General Contractors needing stamped electrical drawings for commercial TI, buildouts, remodels, or change-of-use projects.
-
Electrical Contractors who have drawings ready but need a PE to finalize, correct, and sign them for permit submission.
-
Design-Build Electrical Contractors who draft their own sets, work under a GC exhibit that requires a licensed engineer, or want ongoing engineering support between projects. See electrical engineering for design-build contractors.
-
Architects & Designers who need an electrical engineer of record to complete their plan set and satisfy AHJ requirements.
-
Tenant Improvement Specialists working on offices, retail spaces, restaurants, clinics, or industrial suites.
-
Property & Facility Managers responsible for ensuring electrical upgrades and equipment additions comply with code and pass plan check.
-
Owners’ Representatives coordinating multiple trades and needing a licensed EE to make sure everything is engineered and stamped correctly.
If you’re facing a situation where:
-
LADBS or LA County has issued comments requiring “Provide PE-stamped electrical drawings.”
-
You have drawings but need load calcs, panel schedules, feeder sizing, or a proper SLD.
-
Your original engineer is no longer available, or the engineering is incomplete.
-
You’re opening a restaurant, clinic, office, or commercial suite and need stamped electrical plans for permit.
-
You’re adding or modifying electrical equipment and the AHJ is asking for engineered documentation.
— send the drawings and we will scope it. Simple as that.
If you’re looking for a $50 stamp mill, this is not that. Every set we seal gets an engineering review first. If the drawings are complete and correct, the review is short. If calculations or details are missing, we prepare them. The service covers commercial, medical, restaurant, office, retail and industrial projects in Los Angeles County.
Send your drawings and jurisdiction; we’ll confirm what’s required and give you a clear, proposal-based scope to move forward.
When Electrical Plans in Los Angeles Require a PE Stamp
Whether a project needs PE-sealed electrical drawings depends on the scope, the documents being submitted and the reviewing agency. The situations below are where Los Angeles plan checkers most often ask for engineered calculations or a California Electrical Engineer’s seal. If you already have a correction sheet, it says exactly what is being requested.
​
If the set is complete and the inputs are in hand, review comments or the sealed set go out within two business days of authorization. Expedited work carries an expedite fee stated in the proposal before anything starts. What makes it possible: current drawings in PDF or CAD, panel schedules, equipment data, and the correction sheet if there is one. What rules it out: missing backgrounds or calculations that have to be rebuilt first. Say the deadline in the first email and we’ll tell you the same day whether it’s achievable.
​
Common situations:
1. Electrical Load Changes or New Equipment
Added equipment can require updated load calculations and evaluation of existing electrical capacity. Examples include:
-
Appliances, cooking equipment and refrigeration.
-
HVAC units, heat pumps and rooftop equipment.
-
Dental and medical equipment.
-
Motors, compressors and pumps.
-
Machinery requiring dedicated circuits or feeders.
2. New Panels, Subpanels, Feeders, or Transformers
Distribution changes can require updated panel schedules, single-line diagrams and sizing calculations. Examples include:

-
New panelboards and panel upgrades.
-
New feeders or feeder resizing.
-
Transformer additions or replacements.
-
Changes to main service equipment.
-
Distribution modifications serving tenant improvements.
Existing contractor-prepared drawings and panel schedules can provide a starting point. Their completeness and reliability determine what additional engineering is needed.
​​
3. Service Upgrades + LADWP/SCE Coordination
Service changes can involve load calculations, service-equipment information and a revised single-line diagram. Building-department review and utility service review are separate processes. The proposal defines Red Dog’s engineering deliverables and utility-coordination responsibilities.
​
4. Restaurants, Food Service, and Commercial Kitchens
Cooking equipment, refrigeration, ventilation and water heating can substantially affect electrical loads. The equipment schedule and project scope help determine the required calculations, circuiting and permit documentation.
​
5. Medical, Dental, and Healthcare TIs
Imaging equipment, dental chairs, sterilizers and associated equipment can require dedicated electrical provisions. The facility’s use and applicable healthcare requirements must be established when defining the design and permitting scope.
​
6. Any LADBS Comment Requiring “Engineer of Record”
Send the actual correction sheet if the reviewer requests a California Electrical PE, stamped drawings, signed calculations or engineering clarification.
​
We review those comments with the available plans to define the required services. The engagement may involve calculations, panel-schedule corrections, single-line-diagram revisions or additional electrical design.
​​
7. Change of Use, Commercial TIs, and Office/Retail Buildouts
Changes to occupancy, layout, lighting or equipment can affect electrical documentation and permit requirements. The review should address the proposed use and electrical work, including relevant existing-system information.
​
Send your project address, available drawings and any plan-check comments so we can scope the appropriate electrical engineering service
Bottom Line:
Distribution changes, added load, new panels and new equipment usually mean the drawings need calculations and engineering review. Whether they must be sealed by a California Electrical Engineer depends on the scope and the agency’s requirements. Send the project address, available drawings and any correction sheet and we’ll tell you what applies.
​
What “Stamped Drawings” Actually Mean
A PE seal is a statement of professional responsibility. Under California’s responsible-charge rules, the engineer who seals electrical drawings must have prepared them or directed and reviewed the engineering behind them. In practice that means the calculations, panel schedules and single-line diagram have to be complete and consistent before the seal goes on.

Here’s what “stamped drawings” actually mean when done correctly:
1. Load Calculations Must Be Verified (Not Assumed)
Before stamping, an engineer confirms (and yes, we double-check the stuff everyone else assumes is “fine.” It usually isn’t.):
-
connected load
-
demand factors
-
continuous vs. non-continuous loads
-
panel capacity
-
feeder sizing
-
service availability
-
diversity for commercial equipment
If these numbers don’t exist or don’t make sense, they must be rebuilt.
​​
2. Panel Schedules Need Real Engineering Review
Outdated or inconsistent panel schedules are one of the most common sources of plan-check comments, especially from LADBS.
A proper engineering review confirms:
-
breaker sizes
-
conductor sizing
-
grounding/bonding
-
load balance between phases
-
spare capacity
-
short-circuit rating compatibility
If existing schedules don’t reflect current loads and breakers, they are rebuilt.
​
3. The Single-Line Diagram Must Be Accurate and Code-Aligned
An SLD is not a doodle. If it’s inaccurate, such as if it does not match the panel schedules, LADBS will shred the submittal.
​
Before stamping, the engineer must confirm or correct:
-
OCPD (overcurrent protection device) ratings
-
feeder and bus sizes
-
transformer details
-
grounding system
-
service entrance configuration
-
fault current considerations (even without a full SCCR study)
If the SLD doesn’t match the panel schedules or what’s actually in the building, it’s wrong—and it WILL get flagged, fast.
​​
4. Title 24 and Lighting Notes Must Match the Scope
For many TI projects, lighting compliance and notes must be updated.
This includes:
-
lighting controls
-
switching requirements
-
daylighting (if applicable)
-
acceptance testing notes
-
fixture scheduling
​
5. General Notes, Symbols, and Code References Must Be Consolidated
LADBS expects clean, consistent documentation.
​
Disorganized notes = comments = delays.
​​
6. Safety Must Be Defensible
The seal means the engineer takes professional responsibility for a design that is code-compliant and buildable as drawn.
No guesswork. No shortcuts.
Bottom Line:
A PE stamp is the end of an engineering process, not the beginning.
Drawings we seal have been checked and, where needed, corrected first.
​​
LADBS, LA County, and AHJ Requirements
Electrical plan check in the Los Angeles area is handled by several agencies. The City of Los Angeles reviews through LADBS; unincorporated areas go through LA County Building and Safety; incorporated cities such as Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank have their own building departments. Submittal formats and review practices differ, so the first thing we confirm on any project is which agency is reviewing it.
Here’s the real-world breakdown of how the Los Angeles area treats electrical engineering and PE stamps:​​
LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety)
LADBS is the strictest, most consistent, and most technical AHJ in the region.
​
Common LADBS triggers for electrical PE involvement:
-
new electrical equipment (kitchen, mechanical, medical, industrial)
-
panel or service upgrades
-
distribution changes (new feeders, transformers, subpanels)
-
commercial TI involving any electrical load increase
-
restaurant remodels
-
medical/dental buildouts
-
anything involving X-ray or imaging equipment
-
any drawing submitted without a clear SLD or real load calcs
-
messy, contractor-drafted panel schedules​
Typical LADBS plan check comments requiring PE involvement include:
-
“Provide California Electrical Engineer stamp”
-
“Submit stamped load calculations”
-
“Provide engineered single-line diagram”
-
“Panel schedules must be verified by engineer of record”
-
“Circuiting and loads require engineering justification”
If your correction sheet contains any of these, send it with the drawings and we will scope the response.
​
Commercial EV charging projects that need capacity evaluation, distribution design, or permit drawings are covered under our commercial EV charging electrical engineering service.
​​
LA County (Unincorporated Areas + County Facilities)
LA County is slightly less intense than LADBS but still demands engineered electrical documentation for:
-
service upgrades
-
equipment additions
-
tenant improvements
-
panel modifications
-
medical uses
-
food service
County comments we see most often concern grounding and bonding, overcurrent device selection and load calculations.
​​
Neighboring AHJs: Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica
Each of these cities mirrors LADBS behavior to some extent. Most require PE-stamped drawings for:
-
commercial remodels
-
restaurant TI
-
medical/dental suites
-
distribution changes
-
new equipment loads
Pasadena and Burbank are especially strict with electrical documentation quality.
​​
Utility Coordination (LADWP, SCE)
Utility service review is separate from building-department plan check. When a project changes the service or adds significant load, LADWP or SCE may ask for a load summary, service-equipment information or available-fault-current data as part of their own process. The proposal states which utility documents are included and who submits them.
​​​
Bottom Line:
Tell us the address and we’ll confirm the reviewing agency and what it will expect on the electrical sheets.
​​
Our Process
Contractors hate surprises and love predictability. The process needs to be clean and predictable. You need a clear, efficient process that gets your drawings engineered, stamped, and accepted by LADBS or LA County without back-and-forth chaos. Our process is the same on every project: scope first, then engineering, then sealing, then plan-check support as defined in the proposal.
​​
Step 1 — Send Your Drawings + Jurisdiction
Email your current drawings in PDF (or CAD if available) with:
-
project address
-
jurisdiction (LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, etc.)
-
short description of the scope
-
any plan check comments (if applicable)
This lets us determine whether stamped drawings are needed and what engineering scope applies.
​​
Step 2 — We Review and Provide a Clear Proposal
We review your available information for project fit and proposal preparation. Your proposal identifies:
-
The electrical engineering scope and deliverables.
-
Required drawings, equipment information and other inputs.
-
Included plan-check support.
-
The fee and anticipated delivery schedule.
Initial review is for scoping. Detailed engineering review, calculations and design begin after engagement.
​​​​
Step 3 — Engineering Corrections & Design Finalization
We perform the actual engineering work required to prepare stampable drawings.
​
This can include:
-
rebuilding load calculations
-
reconstructing or correcting panel schedules
-
producing or correcting single-line diagrams
-
verifying OCPD sizing
-
addressing grounding and bonding
-
adding missing notes, keynotes, or safety details
-
ensuring NEC and local code alignment
Contractor input is incorporated as needed, especially for equipment loads and field conditions.
​
Step 4 — PE Stamp Applied (Cover Sheet + Sheets as Required)
Once drawings are complete and compliant, the California PE stamp is applied.
Deliverables include:
-
stamped and signed cover sheet
-
stamped electrical sheets
-
stamped load calculations (if required)
-
stamped SLD when part of the submittal
All files delivered in permit-ready PDF format.
​​
Step 5 — Support Through Plan Check Comments
If LADBS or LA County issues plan check comments, we respond with:
-
corrections
-
technical clarifications
-
updated stamped documents
Plan-check response on the documents we prepare is included as defined in the proposal.​​
Already Have LADBS or LA County Corrections?
Attach the correction sheet with your current drawings. We’ll identify what has to be engineered, corrected and resubmitted, and put that scope and fee in writing before starting.
Or email directly: jerry@reddog.engineering
What We Need From You
To engineer and stamp your electrical drawings efficiently — and to avoid unnecessary delays — we need a clear and complete starting point. Contractors who send complete packages typically get proposals faster, engineering faster, and permits approved faster.
Below is the exact checklist that ensures the process runs smoothly:
1. Existing Electrical Drawings (PDF)
Send whatever you have — even if incomplete.
Plans should include:
-
floor plans with electrical layout
-
lighting plans
-
power plans
-
equipment spec sheets (if applicable)
-
mechanical/equipment plan excerpts (for load references)
If you only have partial drawings, send them. We’ll identify gaps.

2. Panel Schedules
Even if outdated or contractor-created, include them.
These drive the load calculations and show existing capacity. If the panel schedules do not exist, tell us — we can rebuild from field info.
​
3. Load Information (If Known)
This includes:
-
connected loads
-
nameplate ratings
-
equipment lists
-
HVAC schedules
-
kitchen equipment specs
-
dental/medical equipment brochures
Even photos of equipment labels help.
​
4. Scope of Work Summary
A short, practical description of what is changing:
-
new equipment
-
relocated equipment
-
added circuits
-
added panels
-
new tenant buildout
-
restaurant remodel
-
medical suite TI
-
service upgrade
-
feeder changes
No flowery language — just the real scope. A few sentences is enough.
​
5. Jurisdiction (AHJ)
Specify the authority reviewing the permit:
-
LADBS
-
LA County
-
Pasadena
-
Glendale
-
Burbank
-
Culver City
-
Beverly Hills
-
Santa Monica
-
West Hollywood
This determines code expectations and submittal format.
​
6. Plan Check Comments (If Applicable)
If LADBS already issued corrections, send the correction sheet.
This accelerates the process and prevents duplicate comments.
​
7. Photos of Existing Conditions (Optional but Helpful)
Panel interiors, labels, disconnects, subpanels, equipment nameplates, and major electrical rooms can speed up the engineering review and reduce assumptions.
​
Common Los Angeles Project Types We Stamp
Los Angeles has one of the most diverse and demanding commercial markets in the country. That means electrical engineering needs vary wildly — from 600-amp restaurant buildouts in Hollywood to medical suites in Glendale to industrial equipment installations in Vernon. We stamp projects across this entire commercial/TI spectrum, and we know the specific electrical behaviors and pitfalls of each occupancy type.
Below are the most common project categories where we provide full engineering review and PE-stamped drawings:
1. Medical, Dental, and Healthcare TI
These are some of the most engineering-intensive projects in the region.
Typical scopes include:
-
dental chairs + compressors + vacuums
-
sterilization equipment
-
imaging rooms (X-ray, pano, CT, etc.)
-
lighting control requirements
-
dedicated circuits with continuous loads
-
emergency egress + backup requirements (varies by occupancy)
LADBS reviewers are strict about load calcs and panel schedules. If they’re sloppy, you’re getting comments.
​
2. Restaurants, Cafes, and Commercial Kitchens
Restaurant electrical loads are high, diverse, and unforgiving.
Most restaurant remodels trigger PE involvement due to:
-
hood systems
-
refrigeration
-
cooking equipment
-
dishwashing + sanitization equipment
-
electric water heaters
-
heat lamps + warmers
-
POS/IT power distribution
If it’s a food service project, it needs real engineering — period. And if the equipment list is “still coming,” we size based on reality — not wishful thinking.
​
3. Office Tenant Improvements (TI) and Retail Buildouts
The most common project types in LA:
-
new lighting or redesign
-
specialty displays or signage circuits
-
POS stations
-
receptacle layouts
-
small equipment loads
-
data/power coordination
-
conference room loads
-
cubicle power distribution
-
relocating panels, feeders, or mechanical equipment
-
multi-tenant panel impacts
Most “simple office TIs” still require a stamped SLD and updated load calcs, with retail being deceptively complex; capacity issues show up early. Tenant improvement projects needing comprehensive design on top of reviewing and stamping can be handled through our tenant improvement electrical plans service.
​
4. Industrial and Warehouse Projects
Projects typically involve:
-
new equipment loads
-
motors, compressors, pumps
-
dedicated feeders
-
480V machines
-
three-phase distribution
-
transformer additions
-
panel expansions
These projects almost always require stamped engineering to keep inspectors satisfied. Projects centered on new equipment loads, panels, feeders, or distribution modifications can be handled through our commercial facility upgrade electrical plans service.
​
5. Multifamily Common Areas (Lobby, Gym, Hallways, Not Unit Work)
PE-stamped electrical drawings are commonly required for:
-
gym equipment
-
lobby redesign
-
corridor lighting upgrades
-
amenity renovations
This is one of the easiest scopes to turn around quickly and accurately.
Bottom Line:
If your project is commercial, medical, restaurant, office, retail, industrial, or involves electrical distribution changes, we engineer and stamp it.
​
Why Contractors Choose Red Dog Engineering
Los Angeles contractors do not come back to an engineer unless the engineer actually solves problems. Stamping mills disappear. Large firms take weeks. Out-of-area engineers don’t understand LADBS behavior. What contractors want is simple: an engineer who moves projects forward, communicates clearly, and delivers drawings that pass plan check without drama. That’s why contractors choose Red Dog Engineering.

Below is exactly what you get when you work with us — and why our clients stay:
1. A Real California Electrical PE — Not a Stamping Mill
If your plan is ‘just stamp this,’ that’s not us. If you want the drawings engineered properly, we’re a fit.
If you want engineered, defensible drawings approved by LADBS, you’re exactly where you should be. You get engineering review, not rubber-stamping.
​
2. We Engineer First, Stamp Second
Every drawing is checked and corrected for:
-
load calculations
-
panel schedule integrity
-
feeder sizing
-
grounding and bonding
-
SLD accuracy
-
code compliance
-
safety and buildability
We do the work that protects your job and gets it approved.
​
3. A Defined Engineering Schedule
Share your permit-submission deadline and the status of your drawings and equipment information. We confirm an achievable delivery schedule for the agreed scope and identify the inputs needed to keep the work moving.
​
4. LADBS-Experienced Engineering
We know what LADBS reviewers look for because we’ve been through their comment cycles dozens of times. We design so the submittal doesn’t bounce.
This alone eliminates many avoidable corrections. We don’t design in the dark — we design for Los Angeles.
​
5. Clear, Contractor-Friendly Communication
No academic essays.
No cryptic comments.
No disappearing acts.
You get:
-
concise coordination
-
direct answers
-
field-savvy recommendations
-
clear updates on outstanding information and next steps
Contractors prefer engineers who speak like builders, not theorists.
​
6. We Stay Involved Through Plan Check
Many engineers stamp and vanish.
We don’t.
​
If LADBS or LA County issues comments, we:
-
revise drawings
-
provide clarifications
-
generate updated calculations
-
resubmit stamped addendums
Plan-check response on the documents we prepare is included as defined in the proposal; changes in scope are discussed before additional work begins.
​
7. We Understand TI and Commercial Reality
We design for actual constraints:
-
tight ceiling spaces
-
existing panel limitations
-
tenant schedules
-
equipment delivery dates
-
field conditions
-
GC coordination
-
inspector expectations
Good drawings don’t just get permitted — they get built.
Bottom Line:
Contractors choose Red Dog Engineering because we remove friction, eliminate guesswork, and deliver stamped electrical drawings that move projects forward instead of holding them up.
​
What We Don’t Do
Clarity saves everyone time. Los Angeles is full of people looking for shortcuts, illegal conversions, or a PE willing to “just stamp this real quick.” That is not this service. We work on real commercial projects that need real engineering. If your scope falls into any of the categories below, we are not the right fit.
​
1. No “Stamp-Only” Requests Without Engineering Review
If the intent is:
-
“just put your stamp on this,”
-
“don’t change anything,”
-
or “my drawings are done, I just need a seal,” we don’t take the job.
California’s responsible-charge requirements don’t allow an engineer to seal work they haven’t reviewed and taken responsibility for.
​
2. No Unpermitted Residential Work or Illegal Conversions
We do not stamp drawings for:
-
unpermitted garages turned into studios
-
ADU conversions performed without proper architectural plans
-
homeowner DIY electrical work
-
backyard additions that won’t pass zoning
Residential unit work and unpermitted conversions are outside this service.
​
3. This Service is Focused on California Permit Work
Our service is focused on:
-
Los Angeles City
-
LA County
-
surrounding AHJs (Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica)
California-specific code amendments require California engineering.
​
4. No Stamping of Drawings Below Minimum Quality Standards
If drawings are:
-
missing basic information
-
architecturally incomplete
-
composed of screenshots or phone photos
-
copied/pasted from unrelated projects
—we will request proper backgrounds or redraw minimal elements before stamping.
We don’t stamp guesswork. That’s the job.
​
5. No Engineering for Unbuildable or Unsafe Designs
If the design violates NEC, creates unsafe loading conditions, or cannot be built as drawn, we will redesign it correctly or decline the project.
​
6. No Homeowner Hand-Sketch Projects
We only support commercial, medical, restaurant, retail, industrial, and multifamily common-area projects — not individual residential units.
Bottom Line:
We stamp engineered, compliant electrical drawings — not shortcuts.
If your project is legitimate, commercial, and requires professional engineering, we will handle it from review through plan-check response.
​
Pricing Approach
Electrical PE review and stamping fees depend on the engineering needed to complete your project’s electrical documents. Send your available drawings, project address, scope and target schedule so we can prepare a written proposal.
​
1. Defined Scope, Deliverables and Fee
Your proposal identifies the engineering services, deliverables, required inputs, anticipated schedule and fee. For a defined scope, we provide a fixed fee so your team can evaluate and authorize the work before engineering begins.
​
2. Engineering Complexity and Drawing Quality
Pricing reflects the systems involved, available information and extent of review or design required. Relevant work may include load calculations, panel schedules, single-line diagrams, feeder sizing, Title 24 documentation and responses to electrical plan-check comments.
​
Existing drawings can reduce the work needed when they provide a reliable starting point. Missing calculations, incomplete backgrounds or changes to the electrical design can increase the scope.
​
3. Schedule and Expedited Work
Tell us your submission deadline when you inquire. We assess availability and the information needed to meet the requested schedule. If expedited delivery is available, its scope, fee and required inputs are agreed before work begins.
​
Engineering delivery dates are separate from building-department and utility review timelines.
​
4. Plan-Check Support and Scope Changes
The proposal defines included plan-check support. Changes to the project, equipment or requested services may require an adjustment to the scope, fee or schedule. We discuss those changes with you before proceeding with additional work.
​
FAQ
1. Do I need an electrical engineer to stamp drawings for LADBS?
It depends on the project and applicable requirements. Electrical plan check and PE signing and sealing are separate matters, and California law includes a limited contractor-design allowance. In Los Angeles, engineering calculations and analysis must be signed by a registered engineer even when the installing contractor signs the rest of the set. Send your project address, available drawings and any LADBS correction sheet so we can define the engineering services needed.
​
2. What does an electrical PE review before stamping?
A PE must validate load calculations, panel schedules, feeder and conductor sizing, OCPD selection, grounding/bonding, SLD accuracy, Title 24 requirements (when applicable), and overall NEC + local code compliance. A stamp is not applied until the drawings are complete, accurate, and safe.
​
3. Can an out-of-state engineer stamp electrical drawings in Los Angeles?
An Electrical PE based outside California can work on a Los Angeles project if they hold an active California Electrical Engineer license and meet the applicable competence and responsible-charge requirements. A license from another state alone is insufficient.
​
4. How fast can stamped drawings be completed?
Turnaround depends on the engineering scope, drawing quality, required inputs and current availability. Send your target submission date with your available drawings. We confirm the anticipated engineering schedule in the proposal and identify whether expedited delivery is available. Building-department and utility review times are separate.
​
5. Can you stamp drawings another designer or contractor created?
Yes. Existing drawings can be the starting point. The responsible Electrical PE must make or review and approve the engineering decisions, direct necessary corrections, and take responsibility for the electrical work issued under their seal.
​
6. What types of projects require stamped electrical drawings in LA?
Common triggers include:
-
tenant improvements
-
restaurant remodels
-
medical/dental equipment
-
office/retail buildouts
-
new panels or feeders
-
distribution upgrades
-
service changes
-
industrial equipment additions
-
any plan check comment requesting “engineer of record”
​
7. Do you handle plan check comments and revisions?
Yes. We respond to electrical plan-check comments on the documents we prepare, with included support defined in the proposal. Responses may involve drawing revisions, updated calculations or technical explanations. Changes to the project or requested services are evaluated separately for their effect on scope, fee and schedule.
​
8. Can you stamp as-builts?
We can stamp engineered as-builts, which means the drawings must accurately reflect field conditions and be able to support NEC-compliant calculations. We do not stamp hand-sketched or unverifiable residential as-builts.
​
9. Do small commercial projects still need a PE stamp?
Some do. A small project is not automatically exempt, and a load or panel change is not by itself a universal PE-stamp trigger. The work and applicable requirements determine the answer. Send any plan-check comments with the available drawings when requesting a proposal.
​
10. Do you coordinate with LADWP or SCE for service upgrades?
Yes. For service changes, the proposal can include load calculations and technical documentation for the serving utility. Utility application administration and other coordination responsibilities are defined in the project scope.
​
11. Do you work directly with contractors, architects, or both?
Both. Many contractors bring us in directly; others loop us into an architectural team. Either way, we coordinate with whoever is driving the project to keep the cycle moving.
​
12. Are residential unit remodels or homeowner projects eligible?
No. We focus exclusively on commercial, medical, restaurant, office, industrial, and multifamily common-area work — not individual residential units.
Send Your Drawings for a Proposal
If your project is commercial, medical, restaurant, office, industrial, or multifamily common-area and needs stamped electrical drawings in Los Angeles, send your plans and jurisdiction. You’ll get a written scope, a fixed fee for the defined work, and a delivery schedule.
​
-
LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, etc.
-
Commercial TI, restaurants, medical/dental, industrial
-
Proposal-based scope (not per-sheet stamping mills)
Or email directly: jerry@reddog.engineering
About the Engineer
Red Dog Engineering is led by Jerry Poon, PE (California License #20878) — a licensed Electrical Engineer with hands-on experience across commercial, medical, industrial and restaurant projects throughout Los Angeles.
With 15+ years of engineering and design experience in the MEP industry, Jerry prepares permit-ready electrical drawings for commercial projects in Los Angeles. His background spans:
-
commercial tenant improvements
-
restaurant and food-service electrification
-
medical and dental suites
-
industrial equipment loads
-
panel upgrades and distribution redesigns
-
lighting and Title 24 compliance
-
utility coordination (LADWP, SCE)
-
fault and load validation
-
plan check correction cycles
-
large TI rollouts and multi-suite renovations
Jerry’s work is defined by three principles:
1. Engineering Before Stamping
Every drawing is reviewed, corrected, and engineered before the PE stamp is applied — ensuring compliance with NEC, California amendments, AHJ expectations, and safety standards.
​
2. Communicate Like a Builder, Not a Bureaucrat
Contractors get direct answers, practical recommendations, and fast coordination. No academic jargon. No vague emails. No disappearing.
​
3. Follow Through on Electrical Plan-Check Response
Jerry remains the engineering contact for questions about Red Dog’s electrical documents and the plan-check responses included in the engagement. Required project information and changes affecting the electrical scope are communicated to the project team.
​
Professional Summary
-
California Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer (PE)
-
15+ years in MEP engineering, design, and permit-driven commercial work
-
Extensive experience with LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and surrounding AHJs
-
Skilled in AutoCAD, SKM PowerTools, California Title 24, and multi-disciplinary coordination
-
Focused exclusively on commercial, medical, restaurant, retail, industrial, and multifamily common-area projects
​
Service Areas (Los Angeles & Surrounding AHJs)
Electrical permitting in Los Angeles is jurisdiction-driven. Different cities have different expectations, different plan check behaviors, and different requirements for stamped electrical drawings. We support commercial, TI, restaurant, medical, industrial and multifamily common-area projects across Los Angeles County.
Primary Service Area — Los Angeles City (LADBS)
This is the core of our work.
LADBS has the highest engineering requirements, the strictest reviewers, and the most consistent need for PE-stamped electrical drawings.
If your project is in Los Angeles city limits and the correction sheet asks for calculations, it needs an electrical engineer.
​
Los Angeles County, Orange County & San Diego
Los Angeles County is home, and most of our work goes through LADBS, Los Angeles County Building and Safety, and the city building departments across the county, including West Los Angeles and the South Bay. We also serve Orange County and San Diego County. Everything is done remotely — drawings, calculations, and electronic seal — so the jurisdiction changes the correction list, not the process.
​
We routinely review and stamp electrical drawings for commercial and TI projects in:
-
LA County (Unincorporated Areas)
-
Pasadena
-
Glendale
-
Burbank
-
Culver City
-
Beverly Hills
-
West Hollywood
-
Santa Monica
-
Long Beach
-
Inglewood
-
Hawthorne
-
El Segundo
-
Orange County (all cities)
-
San Diego County (all cities)
These AHJs mirror LADBS in many ways.
Most require PE involvement for electrical distribution changes, equipment additions, panel upgrades, service modifications, and tenant improvements.​
​
Specialized Industrial + Manufacturing Zones
We also support projects in:
-
Vernon
-
Commerce
-
City of Industry
-
Carson
-
Downey
Projects in these areas are usually about equipment: motors, process loads, dedicated feeders. They need single-line diagrams, panel schedules and load calculations.
​
Multifamily Common Areas Across All AHJs
Gym upgrades, corridor lighting, EV chargers, lobby redesigns and amenity improvements commonly require engineered drawings.
We support these across all jurisdictions listed above.
Bottom Line:
If your commercial project is anywhere in Los Angeles, Orange or San Diego County, we provide the engineering and PE-sealed electrical drawings for permit submission.
​
Send Us Your Drawings
Email your available drawings and project details to discuss electrical PE review and stamped permit documents for your Los Angeles project.
(Attach PDF drawings, scope summary, jurisdiction, and any plan check comments.)
​​
Include What You Have
-
Project address and permitting jurisdiction, if known.
-
A short description of the electrical work.
-
Your target submission date.
-
Available drawings, panel schedules and single-line diagrams.
-
Equipment information and any plan-check comments.
You can start with an incomplete package. We’ll identify the additional information needed to define the engineering scope.
​
Email Your Drawings
​
What Happens Next
We review your information for project fit, clarify the scope and prepare a proposal identifying the deliverables, fee and anticipated schedule. If a separate engineering evaluation is needed before design can be scoped, we’ll explain that service and its fee first.
​
Initial review is for scoping and proposal preparation. Project-specific engineering begins after engagement.
​​
Have LADBS or LA County Comments Already?
Send them.
We’ll review the correction sheet and scope what needs to be engineered and resubmitted.
Bottom Line:
If you want stamped electrical drawings that pass Los Angeles plan check, send your drawings and jurisdiction to start the process. This is the fastest and cleanest way to move your project forward.
Red Dog Engineering exists to move projects forward — not slow them down.
You get engineered, stamped, permit-ready electrical drawings delivered with the precision, speed, and clarity that Los Angeles contractors demand.